Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-07-23
PERlLS OF CREMATION.
A LIVING WOMAN NARROWLY ES-
CAPES AN AWFUL DEATH.

Everything Prepared to Plunge Her
Into the Glowing Fire, the Supposed
Corpse Revives In the Nick of Time-A
Frightfuliy Close Call.
NEW York, July GA living woman
for whom the crematory furnace was at its
fiercest heat of 2, 100 degrees Fair, and for
whom the alum sheets were already prepared,
is now with her husband and children, although
on Thursday last she lay in her coffin in a
room adjoining the vault where incarceration
is done 1t was a case horrible to contem-
plate, and will make evident the need of still
more stringent laws TO govern this new feat
ure in sanitary welfare Ex-Coroner Hughes
is president of the Mount Olivet Crematory
association, which, in the form
of Grecian temple, is located in
lovely garden spot at Fresh Pond, L. |.
Dr. Hughes vouches for the correctness OF
the story, but withholds both the name of the
physician who signed the death certificat"
and that Of the lady In the former case he
gave his promise only after the most urgent
appeals and then he only consented to keep
the story until the annual report is published
in October, when his obligations as president
of the crematory makes ii necessary for him
to print the facts, aud even then, out of mo
tives of consideration that prevail in every
mans breast, he will suppress the name OF
unfortunate yet, at the same time, happy
family that had the dead restored to life
On the day mentioned casket containing
10 IrJ Of IL
tory. II came from Filth avenue, not far
from the Hotel Windsor Accompanying it
was the widower. children, and half dozen
relatives The casket was carried into the
reception-room, and by its side was placed a
costly silver uFa, in which the ashes were to
be subsequently placed for final keeping.
After simple service the I'D of the coffin was
| removed and the mourneis one by one, took
last fearful look The lid was replaced and
the floral embems were again placed on the
coffin
The widower and weeping children We're
1 led away to the carriages, and the dead was
| left TO the crematory assistants for incinera-
| ton. When they were gone President
| Hughes and his nien removed the entire lid
| and then sent them to prepare the alum
| sheet for euveloping the body and to swing
| the chilled steel cradle into position before
| the glowing furnace doors. While they were
absent President Hughes turned to a small
mirror, and while arranging his tie he was
| startled by faint voice at his back saving:
| Where am IL
| Turning quickly he saw the woman sitting
upright in her easket, staring directly at him.
| When be gathered his scattered wits he re-
l al,sSa1 I,,tr NNag ua..l.l and
stepping to her side, h. said famiIiarly: "Yor
are with friends She had already swung
her legs out OF the casket, and was hooking
| in dazed way at the arm and then at hel
satin burial robes Assisting her ont of the
dreadful coffin aud eucuclng her with one
arm he carefully kept her head turned trOu
her resting place. and halt led half carried
her to a cheerful bedroom overhead, occu
pied by the superintendent aud his Wiit. SOf
breezes We're coming i'll the window, and
cherry canary bird in an alcove sang a som
Of JOY
| While the SUPERINTENDENT wife remove,
the garments of death and put th, lady t,
bed. President Hughes hurried away and re
turned with some brandy and milk TIL
drink had the effect of bringing the flush t.
the cheeks of the patient, succeeded inIuesii
ately by quiet doze. The Telegraph wa
brought into requisitlon, and the husband wa
soon back at the creInatory with set of hi
N1fe's apparel While he was yet on the wa,
his wife awaked from her nap and SAID
| Whose clothes am | wearing They wer
those of the crematory, hut that fact vas in
gsniously concealed IA the reply, Nhic
seemed to satisfy her
The severeSt task was when the hushau
arrived, when they tried to : hool HIM int
self-control for the interview. The course q
procedure agreed upon was carried out to tn
letter The husband went into the room wi,
the usual INQUIRY rs to how she felt and sal
that If she considered herself strong -doug
they would return 10 the CITY: that in hi
opinion she had stayed long enough IN tn
country. Acquiescine in everything, thougI
somewhat mystified, she ar,se, dressed he,
self and announced that she WAS ready
The husband was now III tortured fran
of mind, for he dreaded passing the fror
door where in large letters was the wor
"Cr-uatory The shock of the discovery
feared would kill his wife Happily tber
was rear door, aud through tins he led liz
to close carriage, and thence, regardless {
the fact that there WAS no road he had IL
carriage driven straight across the lawn an
field until kindly trees Ind the cr,.inatur
from sight Then lie took tht smooth lnkt
the nearest railryat station. and Il Uni
; thence home,
Th- children had ts.,,l iarpwarued Of y b,
had occurred, Int H. an ndiitiouai Ir.,,sl
| tlon they were sent from liuu- and r.e,- ~
allowed to see their .ttfh,'r Iutu'CSlisi--iS -
WIS given tn lh.ll,.>,; thar The, we've VI, a Is